Jon Hamiltonhttp://tspr.org
enClues To Autism, Schizophrenia Emerge From Cerebellum Researchhttp://tspr.org/post/clues-autism-schizophrenia-emerge-cerebellum-research
A new understanding of the brain's cerebellum could lead to new treatments for people with problems caused by some strokes, autism and even schizophrenia.<p>That's because there's growing evidence that symptoms ranging from difficulty with abstract thinking to emotional instability to psychosis all have links to the cerebellum, says <a href="http://www.massgeneral.org/neurology/doctors/doctor.aspx?id=16489">Jeremy Schmahmann</a>, a professor of neurology at Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital.<p>"The cerebellum has all these functions we were previously unaware of," Schmahmann says.<p>SMon, 16 Mar 2015 22:15:00 +0000Jon Hamilton68640 at http://tspr.orgClues To Autism, Schizophrenia Emerge From Cerebellum ResearchA Man's Incomplete Brain Reveals Cerebellum's Role In Thought And Emotionhttp://tspr.org/post/mans-incomplete-brain-reveals-cerebellums-role-thought-and-emotion
Since his birth 33 years ago, <a href="http://www.communityinclusion.org/staff.php?staff_id=157">Jonathan Keleher</a> has been living without a cerebellum, a structure that usually contains about half the brain's neurons.<p>This exceedingly rare condition has left Jonathan with a distinctive way of speaking and a walk that is slightly awkward.Mon, 16 Mar 2015 07:08:00 +0000Jon Hamilton68604 at http://tspr.orgA Man's Incomplete Brain Reveals Cerebellum's Role In Thought And EmotionMad Cow Research Hints At Ways To Halt Alzheimer's, Parkinson's http://tspr.org/post/mad-cow-research-hints-ways-halt-alzheimers-parkinsons
Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ravage the brain in very different ways. But they have at least one thing in common, says <a href="http://www.scripps.edu/florida/philanthropy/action/lasmezas-profile.html">Corinne Lasmezas</a>, a neuroscientist and professor at Scripps Research Institute, in Jupiter, Fla.Mon, 09 Mar 2015 20:38:00 +0000Jon Hamilton68302 at http://tspr.orgMad Cow Research Hints At Ways To Halt Alzheimer's, Parkinson's Why California's Superbug Outbreak Isn't As Scary As It Seemshttp://tspr.org/post/why-californias-superbug-outbreak-isnt-scary-it-seems
News reports are describing a "nightmare superbug" killing people in California.Fri, 20 Feb 2015 03:09:00 +0000Jon Hamilton67412 at http://tspr.orgWhy California's Superbug Outbreak Isn't As Scary As It SeemsPain Really Is All In Your Head And Emotion Controls Intensityhttp://tspr.org/post/pain-really-all-your-head-emotion-controls-intensity
When you whack yourself with a hammer, it feels like the pain is in your thumb.Wed, 18 Feb 2015 22:10:00 +0000Jon Hamilton67348 at http://tspr.orgPain Really Is All In Your Head And Emotion Controls IntensityBeyond BPA: Court Battle Reveals A Shift In Debate Over Plastic Safetyhttp://tspr.org/post/beyond-bpa-court-battle-reveals-shift-debate-over-plastic-safety
BPA-free isn't good enough anymore if you're trying to sell plastic sippy cups, water bottles and food containers.<p>The new standard may be "EA-free," which means free of not only <a href="http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHealthFocus/ucm064437.htm">BPA</a>, short for bisphenol A, but also free of other chemicals that mimic the hormone estrogen.<p>At least that's the suggestion of a recent legal battle between a chemical company and an academic scientist with business interests in the plastics industry.Mon, 16 Feb 2015 08:42:00 +0000Jon Hamilton67226 at http://tspr.orgBeyond BPA: Court Battle Reveals A Shift In Debate Over Plastic SafetyOnce A Vaccine Skeptic, This Mom Changed Her Mindhttp://tspr.org/post/once-vaccine-skeptic-mom-changed-her-mind
The ongoing measles outbreak linked to Disneyland has led to some harsh comments about parents who don't vaccinate their kids. But <a href="http://juniperwrites.com/">Juniper Russo</a>, a writer in Chattanooga, Tenn., says she understands those parents because she used to be one of them.<p>"I know what it's like to be scared and just want to protect your children, and make the wrong decisions," Russo says.<p>When her daughter Vivian was born, "I was really adamant that she not get vaccines," Russo says.Wed, 04 Feb 2015 08:39:00 +0000Jon Hamilton66581 at http://tspr.orgOnce A Vaccine Skeptic, This Mom Changed Her MindLeaky Blood Vessels In The Brain May Lead To Alzheimer'shttp://tspr.org/post/leaky-blood-vessels-brain-may-lead-alzheimers
Researchers appear to have found a new risk factor for Alzheimer's disease: leaky blood vessels.<p>An MRI <a href="http://www.cell.com/neuron/abstract/S0896-6273(14)01141-6">study</a> of found those experiencing mild problems with thinking and memory had much leakier blood vessels in the hippocampus.Fri, 23 Jan 2015 21:06:00 +0000Jon Hamilton66054 at http://tspr.orgLeaky Blood Vessels In The Brain May Lead To Alzheimer'sFrom The Mouths Of Apes, Babble Hints At Origins of Human Speechhttp://tspr.org/post/mouths-apes-babble-hints-origins-human-speech
An orangutan named Tilda is providing scientists with fresh evidence that even early human ancestors had the ability to make speechlike vocalizations.<p>Tilda has learned to produce <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/asset?unique&id=info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0116136.s001">vocalizations</a> with striking similarities to human speech, scientists <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0116136">report</a> in the journal <em>PLOS ONE</em>.Wed, 14 Jan 2015 21:33:00 +0000Jon Hamilton65596 at http://tspr.orgFrom The Mouths Of Apes, Babble Hints At Origins of Human SpeechBrain Scans May Help Predict Future Problems, And Solutionshttp://tspr.org/post/brain-scans-may-help-predict-future-problems-and-solutions
Brain scans may soon be able to help predict a person's future — some aspects of it, anyway.<p>Information from these scans increasingly is able to suggest whether a child will have trouble with math, say, or whether someone with mental illness is going to respond to a particular treatment, according to a <a href="http://www.cell.com/neuron/abstract/S0896-6273(14)00967-2">review</a> of dozens of studies published Wednesday in the journal <em>Neuron</em>.<p>The review found "growing evidence that brain measures can predict future outcomes or behaviors," says <a href="http://bcs.mit.edu/people/gWed, 07 Jan 2015 22:19:00 +0000Jon Hamilton65228 at http://tspr.orgBrain Scans May Help Predict Future Problems, And Solutions